Cosy but Cultured!
January cinema, Liberty's Women textile designers, Neo-impressionism at National Gallery, rom com Netflix highlights.
Despite mostly staying in, I clocked up a respectable list of activities kicking off the year!
January Cinema Picks
Marty Supreme - My favourite was Timothée Chalamet’s madcap 1950s New Yorker’s quest to be table tennis champion. Reminiscent of “Catch Me If You Can”.
Hamnet - Jacobi Jupe, the young boy playing Shakespeare’s son Hamnet is remarkable. I found Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley gloomy and self-aware.
Becoming Victoria Wood - (not pictured) - Documentary about the much-missed comedian’s rise to fame. Lots of vintage footage, it will be broadcast on U&TV during February.
No Other Choice - A sacked Korean paper mill manager decides to murder the other candidates when he can’t secure new employment. Darkly humorous, with a horribly prescient conclusion. Much like Parasite, themes such as Korean deferance to status, career ambition and materialism are explored.
WEER at Soho Theatre Walthamstow
First theatre trip of the year was Soho Theatre Walthamstow. WEER (rhymes with “deer”) stars Natalie Palamides simultaneously as her male/female characters. With costumes and make up split down her centre, she physically jumps to present whichever half is speaking to the audience. Initially unconvinced by the concept, Palamides’ sheer energy and comedy props won me over. The male character is repulsive - but you realise he needs to be, otherwise it wouldn’t be so funny.
Indoor viewing - three Netflix romances
This Time Next Year. After the latest Emily in Paris at Christmas, we craved more fluff. Equally silly, with pastel bright sets and London locations, This Time Next Year is a part Richard Curtis movie, part Wes Anderson colour scheme. It’s a watchable romance, but a cheesy daft storyline.
We Live In Time. Less lighthearted, starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. The pair meet, fall in love and part but in scrambled order. After you’ve twigged what’s going on, it’s a charming film with strong performances and under-mentioned foodie sub-plot; Pugh plays a chef competing in the Bocuse D’Or culinary contest.
One Day (Netflix series). A huge fan of the original film, I grew to love the re-cast characters who have more room to breath over 14 thirty minute episodes. The final half hour had me biting my lip trying not to cry.
Liberty Textiles at William Morris Gallery
Getting out of the house for some art now. The William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow is close to home and currently hosting “Women in Print: 150 Years of Liberty Textiles”.
This fabulous little show continues until 21 June and celebrates female print designers at the heart of Liberty’s iconic textile designs. Highlights were a Foale and Tuffin floral dress (above top right), Neisha Crosland paisley designs (above, bottom left) and a study for a Sonia Delauney scarf (above, bottom right). The show also features outfits designed for Biba, Mary Quant and Dolly Rocker.
Well worth a trip to Walthamstow, the museum has an excellent cafe and vantage point over Lloyd Park. I will share more details on my arts-themed Instagram account: @fashion_art_writer .
Blondie In Camera 1978
Currently on free display at the Barbican’s music library is Blondie In Camera 1978, exhibiting the band’s publicity photography by Martyn Goddard, his vintage camera equipment used on shoots and Blondie-related ephemera. A highlight for me was seeing one of the flash guns held on the cover of The Best of Blondie, as I had played this constantly as a teenager. Extended until 21 February, it’s worth popping in if you are nearby.
Radical Harmony at the National Gallery
Excuse the random cropping in some of these galleries - I am being “done is better than perfect” getting these Substacks out on time!
Last weekend I enjoyed seeing the Radical Harmony exhibition at the National Gallery before it closes on 8 February. This show displays neo-impressionist works collected by Helene Kröller-Müller, including paintings by Seurat, Van Gogh and Pissaro.
My favourites were Collioure Bell Tower (top left) by Paul Signac - as I have holidayed in Collioure numerous times - and this strident farm worker by Van Gogh. A picture with a cat (also Signac) always gets my vote too!
With my fellow art-admirer Jeanne, I also took in a few permanent collection favourites: Cezanne, Renoir and Monet, and hung out on the National Gallery balcony overlooking Trafalgar Square. Upon leaving, we stumbled upon Edwin Austin Abbey’s beautiful study of The Hours (detail, bottom right).
Edwin Austin Abbey was a peer and friend of John Singer Sargent. Born Stateside, Austin Abbey moved to Gloucestershire, from where his works were shipped back to America. The centrepiece of the single room display, shown above, is a bright, 12 foot half-size study for The Hours, the full size version of which decorates the dome of Pennsylvania State Capitol’s House of Representatives’ Chamber. Austin Abbey’s graceful figures reminded me of Albert Moore; the single room of works will enchant fans of the pre-Raphaelites until 15 February.
And finally…
It’s not been a gourmet month; we have been overwhelmed by leftover mince pies, two roast turkeys (our Serbian Christmas dinner took place on 7 January) and cheese.
A good excuse to make my Panettone French Toast and Stilton and Walnut Muffins! I don’t recall any restaurant meals this month but many croissants and coffee have been enjoyed to get us outdoors first thing.
My son Ted only went back to uni two weeks ago, after our second family Christmas get together. Once he’d gone, I was buried in jobs that had built up after hosting various guests. But I have written 5000 words’ worth of new guides about Paris - I will publish these on Maison Cupcake soon. A quick trip to France might be required to update my photos…
Until late Feb/early March - thanks for reading!
Sarah
A few links:
Radical Harmony - runs to 8 Feb at the National Gallery (from £20, concessions available).
Edwin Austin Abbey - runs to 15 Feb at the National Gallery (free).
Blondie in Camera - runs to 21 Feb at Barbican Music Library (free).
Women in Print - runs to 21 Jun at William Morris Gallery Walthamstow (suggested £5 donation)
Really surprised me how many things you’ve done, and it’s still February. A lovely collection and your pictures are fabulous. Looking forward to the next one ❤️❤️
Going to watch Hamnet has been on my to do list for weeks, I’m now feeling it maybe over hyped! Which is how I felt after watching we live in time. I am a crier and it didn’t get me at all!